Device for adjusting the head in tape recorder

ABSTRACT

A tape recorder head adjuster includes a mounting plate fixed to a frame. The mounting plate has a parallelogram link member supported by a pin on the mounting plate. The free end of the member has a head mounting plate having at one end the head. At the other end of the head mounting plate is contacted by a cam mounted on a rotatable shaft. A spring operates to bias the member and the head normally up. When the cam is rotated, the head is forced down against the force of the spring.

United States Patent Inventor Takehiko Yamada Osaka, Japan Appl. No.876,917

Filed Nov. 14, 1969 Patented July 13, 1971 Assignee Orion Electric Co.,Ltd.

Osaka, Japan Priority Feb. 3, 1969 Japan 44/ 10007 DEVICE FOR ADJUSTINGTHE HEAD 1N TAPE RECORDER 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 74/89, 179/100.2, 274/4 Int. Cl F16h 21/02 Field of Search 74/89,96, 55,112,116, 567; 274/4 A, 43; 179/100.2 CA, 100.2

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS lsom Snyder Pollaschek ReedWilson et a1.

Ward

Dann Kawata Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant ExaminerWesley S.Ratliff, Jr. Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT: A tape recorderhead adjuster includes a mounting plate fixed to a frame. The mountingplate has a parallelogram link member supported by a pin on the mountingplate. The free end of the member has a head mounting plate having atone end the head. At the other end of the head mounting plate iscontacted by a cam mounted on a rotatable shaft. A spring operates tobias the member and the head normally up. When the cam is rotated, thehead is forced down against the force of the spring.

PATENTEI] JUL! 3l97l 3,592,068

INVENTOR. TAKEHIKO YAMADA yaw/1%; 51M

ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEAD IN TAPE RECORDER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for adjustingthe head in a tape recorder. The objects of the present invention are toprovide a head-adjusting device by which the head can be retained in ahorizontal position even on a base always subjected to vibration as inthe case of a stereo on a motor vehicle, such as a stereo carrying afour-track or eight-track endless tape, and by which the head can bemoved in a vertical direction accurately and reliably with respect tothe desired track on the tape and to effect such adjustment whileeliminating the possibility of making overlapping reproductions of twotracks.

Other objects and features of the invention will be made clear by thefollowing description taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingan embodiment of a device for adjusting the head in a tape recorder inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the device of the presentinvention, (a) showing the head located at an elevated position (12)showing the head located at a lowered position.

The structure of the device of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings in which a preferred embodimentis shown. Designated at 1 is a frame and at 2 a mounting plate fixed tothe frame 1 and carrying brackets 3. A parallelogram link member 4 withconstituent side links pivotally connected at respective comers thereofis pivotally mounted on the brackets 3 on the mounting plate 2, onevertical side link 4' thereof being fixed in the vertical direction.Designated at 5 is a spring provided across the link member 4 and havingone end thereof attached to a portion proximate to the upper end of thefixed vertical link 4 and the other end thereof to a free end of thelower side link, the upper and lower sides thereby being urged intoupward pivotal movement at all times. A head mounting plate 6 is securedto the free end of the vertical side of the parallelogram link member 4and carries at one end thereof a head 7 so that the head may be incontact with the inner surface of a tape 8 and at the other end thereofa cam engaging portion 9 in the shape of a projection. An adjustingplate 10 for adjusting the fixed position of the vertical side of thelink member 4 is formed integrally with the vertical side link 4'supported on the brackets 3 and is provided at its end with a slot 11carrying an adjusting screw 13, with a spring 12 disposed between theslot and the mounting plate 2, the arrangement being such that theadjusting screw when rotated makes fine adjustment by pivoting thevertical side link 4' around the brackets. A cam plate 14 is mounted ona shaft 16 supported on a baseplate 15 so as to always be in contactwith the cam-engaging portion 9 of the head-mounting plate 6. Fixedlymounted on the shaft 16 is a gear 17 which is rotated by a drive rodadapted to be driven when a solenoid 18 is energized. Due to therotational displacement of the cam plate 14 effected by the aboverotation, the head-mounting plate 6 is moved upward or downward, wherebythe head 7 is so controlled as to be automatically adjusted to theposition of a desired track of the tape 8. Designated at 19 is a guidepin projecting from the under surface of the baseplate 15 and providinga spring 20 thereon to thereby support the baseplate 15 resiliently onthe frame 1. Secured to an edge portion of the baseplate 15 are platesprings 21 which serve to support the baseplate 15 resiliently on theframe I together with the spring 20 against vibration exerted thereonexternally. An adjusting screw 22 for adjusting the position of thebaseplate 15 is mounted at the center portion of the baseplate 15.

Although an automatic position-selecting system in which the shaft 16 isdriven ugon the energization of the solenoid 18 is employed in the a oveembodiment and drawings as a mechanism for controlling the rotationalposition of the cam plate 14, the mechanism is not limited to thissystem, but instead of the automatic system it is possible, forinstance, to rotate the shaft 16 manually in making the selection.

The operation of the device in accordance with the present inventionwill now be described. When the solenoid 18 employed in the foregoingautomatic position-selecting system is energized, the shaft 16 is driventhrough the gear 17 to rotate the cam plate 14, which in turn presses onthe cam-engaging portion 9 of the head-mounting plate 6 and exertsthereon a stress to lower the head 7. Although the parallelogram linkmember 4 supporting the head 7 is so urged that the upper and lowersides thereof are always pivotally moved upward by the pulling force ofthe spring 5, the link member is pivotally pushed downward about thepivoted portion of the brackets 3 of the mounting plate 2 against theforce of the spring (see FIG. 2b). Thus, the position of the head 7fixed to the headmounting plate 6 can be adjusted. Since the verticalside link 4' of the parallelogram link member 4 is supported on thebracket 3 and is fixed in the vertical direction by the adjusting spring13, the other vertical side in facing relationship therewith, duringthis operation, is also pivotally moved upward or downward while beingretained in the vertical position, with the result that it is moved andadjusted always in the vertical direction with respect to the line alongwhich the tape 8 is advanced.

The head-adjusting device in a tape recorder of the present inventionhas the structure described above. Accordingly, the head 7 can beadjusted in the vertical direction to the desired track on the tape 8with accuracy and reliability simply by turning the cam plate 14. Inaddition, since vibration is absorbed by the parallelogram link member 4including the spring 5 and by the baseplate supported on the spring 20and plate spring 21, the head 7 can be retained at the desired positioneven when placed on a base which is always subjected to vibration as inthe case a stereo in a motor vehicle. The headadjusting device is thusfree from the possibility of making overlapping reproductions.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been described indetail, such description is intended to be illustrative only, and notrestrictive, since many details of the construction of the invention maybe altered or modified without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

What I claim is:

l. A device for adjusting the head in a tape recorder comprising aframe, a mounting plate fixed to said frame and having brackets thereon,a parallelogram link member having the respective links pivotallyconnected at the corners thereon, one of said corners of said memberbeing formed of a vertical link and the lower link being supported on apin at said brackets, said vertical link having an integral adjustingplate fixed to said mounting plate thereby fixing the position of saidvertical link, means to urge the upper and lower links of said member topivot upwardly around said vertical link, a headmounting plate disposedat the free end of said member and adapted to hold a head at one endthereof in contact with a tape, a cam plate mounted on a shaft andadapted to contact the other end of said head-mounting plate, and meansto rotate said shaft and said cam plate, whereby said head is lowered inopposition to said urging means to contact various tracks of said tape.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam plate and said shaftare mounted on a baseplate, and further comprising means for resilientlysupporting said baseplate.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for resilientlysupporting said baseplate comprises a spring and a plate springpositioned between said baseplate and said frame.

1. A device for adjusting the head in a tape recorder comprising aframe, a mounting plate fixed to said frame and having brackets thereon,a parallelogram link member haviNg the respective links pivotallyconnected at the corners thereon, one of said corners of said memberbeing formed of a vertical link and the lower link being supported on apin at said brackets, said vertical link having an integral adjustingplate fixed to said mounting plate thereby fixing the position of saidvertical link, means to urge the upper and lower links of said member topivot upwardly around said vertical link, a head-mounting plate disposedat the free end of said member and adapted to hold a head at one endthereof in contact with a tape, a cam plate mounted on a shaft andadapted to contact the other end of said head-mounting plate, and meansto rotate said shaft and said cam plate, whereby said head is lowered inopposition to said urging means to contact various tracks of said tape.2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam plate and said shaftare mounted on a baseplate, and further comprising means for resilientlysupporting said baseplate.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid means for resiliently supporting said baseplate comprises a springand a plate spring positioned between said baseplate and said frame.